Washing machine



June 6, 1939. c. w. DUNHAM WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 31, lesso o 0 com.

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George W Dun ham by W m mwmwmwwwwwm Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATESWASHING MACHINE George W. Dunham, Westport, Conn., assignor to GeneralElectric New York Company, a corporation of Application January 31,1936, Serial No. 61,635 Renewed January .10, 1939 25 Claims.

The present invention relates to washing machines of the type having acentrifugal extractor for drying the clothes.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction andarrangement in washing machines of this type, and for a consideration ofwhat I believe to be novel and my invention attention is directed to thefollowing description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig.- 1 is an elevation partly in sectionof a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged viewof the driving connections for the agitator and the rotatable receptacleas shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig.2 showing the clutch between the shaft and the rotatable' receptacle inthe disengaged position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of theguide bearing for the vertical shaft; Fig. 5 is a sectional view takenon line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the clutch between the shaft and therotatable receptacle in the engaged or driving position; and Fig. 6 is amodification of the guide bearing construction for the vertical shaft.

Referring to' the drawing, the washing machine comprises a stationarytub I which is supported on a base 2. The upper end of the tub ispartially closed by an annular cover 3 having a flange 4 which fitswithin the upper edge of the tub. Between the flange 4 and the tube is asuitable gasket 5. A cover 6 rests on the inner edge of the annularcover 3 and completes the closing of the top of the stationary tub.When'clothes are to be inserted or removed from the washing machine,only the cover 6 need be removed. The cover 3 is removed when the insideof the stationary tub is to be cleaned. The base 2 is provided with askirt 1 which extends above the bottom of the'stationary tub and coversthe abutting edges of the tub and the base. -Within the base 2 issupported a driving mechanism for the washing machine which is adaptedto effect selective oscillation or rotation of a vertical'shaft 8. Anysuitable driving mechanism may be used, for example, the drivingmechanism shown in my application S. N. 14,255, filed April 2, 1935.Keyed to the shaft 8 is a brake of the s hait I is provided drum 9 whichis connected by means of a suitable universal joint to the lower end ofa vertical shaft Ill which extends through a sleeve II. The universaljoint comprises diametrically opposed pins [2 which are fixed in ears ISon the upper side of the brake drum. The inner ends of the pins l2arejournaled in bearings 14 carried between plates l which form theintermediate member of the universal joint. The lower end withdiametrically opposed pins IG which 'arespaced between the pins I2 andare likewise journaled' in bearings carried between the plates IE or theiipiversal Joint. With this construction, the vertical shaft I. may havea gyratory movement with respect to the driving shaft 3. The sleeve llextends above the normal water level in the stationary tub I. The

upper end of the sleeve is provided with a spheri-- cal seat for aself-lubricating sleeve bearing H which guides the vertical shaft Hi.This spherical seat, which is more clearly shown in Fig. 4, comprises aflared portion l8 of the sleeve and a collar I! which is threaded intothe upper end of the sleeve. This spherical seat permits alinement ofthe bearing l1 with the shaft I0 80 that the bearing pressure is uniformregardless of the inclination of the shaft.

The housing for the driving mechanism which is supported within the base2 has a hollow post which extends through central openings in the topwall of the base and the bottom wall of the stationary tub. The post 20is secured to the bottom wall of the tub and to the base by means ofscrews 2| which are threaded through a clamping ring 22 into a flange 23which is integral with the post 20. Suitable gaskets are arrangedbetween the flange 23 and the base and between the base and the bottomwall of the tub. Leakage from the bottom of the tub is prevented bymeans of a rubber sleeve 24 which has its lower edge clamped betweenthe. ring 22 and the bottom of the tub and which has its upper edgeclamped to the sleeve ll above the post 20 by means of a clamp 25.Within the post 20 is a. resilient mounting for the lower end of thesleeve I I which comprises two annuluses 2B of rubber or other resilientmaterial. The lower annulus is arranged between an inwardly extendingflange 21 at the lower end of the post and a flange 28 projecting from asleeve '29 secured to the sleeve II. The upper annulus is arrangedbetween the upper side of the flange inner edge of theupper annulus 26rests against a sleeve 3| which is flxed to the sleeve H. The sleeve 3|is of the same dimensions as the sleeve 29 and is used so that theannuluses may be of the same size. The resilience of the mounting isadjusted by means of a nut 32 which is threaded into the upper end ofthe post 20. This nut varies the compression of the rubber and therebyvaries the stiffness of the mounting. Withthis mounting, the sleeve IIis resiliently held-in a central position and is free to tilt in alldirections in order that the shaft l0 which is guided in the sleeve mayhave a. gyratory movement.

In the upper part of the stationary tub is a rotatable tub-or receptacle33 for receiving liquid and material to be'washed. The space between thebottom of the receptacle 3! and the bottom of the stationary tub I issumcient to provide a storage space for all the liquid which can beplaced in the receptacle. At the centering flange 4! (see Fig. 2) formedthereon.

of the receptacle is a vertical sleeve 34 which serves as the hub forthe receptacle. The upper end of the sleeve 34 projects above the waterlevel in the'receptacle. The lower end of the sleeve 34 fits into anopening in the bottom wall of the receptacle and an opening in astiffening disk 35, both of which are held in position between ashoulder and a spun-over portion, as shown at 35. The lower end of thesleeve 34 is provided with a circular flange 31 which extends over theupper side of the bottom wall of the receptacle. The flange 31 and thestiffening disk 35 are secured to the bottom wall of the receptacle bymeans of rivets 38. The lower end of the sleeve 34 is guided by aself-lubricating bearing 39 which is fixed to the vertical shaft 116.The provision of the bearing 39 is not my inven tion, but is theinvention of H. F. Barifli, and is claimed in his application, S. N.61,664, died Jan. 31, 1936. The upper end of the sleeve 34 is ded on theshaft I 0 by a self-lubricating sleeve bearing "which is pressed withinthe upper end of the sleeve against an inwardly extend- The lower. endof the sleeve bearing 40 bears on a hardened steel thrust collar 42which is keyed to the shaft It. The thrust collar is supported on theshaft bymeans of a shoulder 43 on the shaft. The weight of thereceptacle and the material contained therein is transmitted to thethrust collar 42 by the bearing 40 and through 'the shoulder 43 to theshaft III. From the shaft in the weight is transmitted through theuniversal joint and the shaft 8 to a suitable thrust bearing in thedriving mechanism which is containedwithin the base 2. Obviously thebearings 39 and 40 provide a support for the receptaclewhich permits thereceptacle to turn relative to the shaft through an angle of greaterthan 360.

' The shaft I II projects above the sleeve 34 and the projecting end isprovided with splines 44 which fit between'complementary splines formedin a bushing 45 which is fixed in the upper end of the hub of anagitator 45. Leakage of water through the upper end of the agitator asthe water is splashed about is prevented by a cup 41 whichis snapped inplace over the upper end of agitator. The splines. 44 provide a rigiddriving connection for the agitator and at the sametimepermit theagitator to be easily lifted from the end of the shaft.

During washing, the shaft I! isoscillsted through the driving shaft landthereby causes oscillatiomofthe agitator 40 in the receptacle 33. Duringthispecillation of the agitatorthe receptacle substantially stationarydue I to inertia. The clothes are prevented from faillug over; theupper; edge of there'ceptacle by means of an guard ring 44 which islocated slightly below theupner edge of the. receptacle.Duringjweshin'g. water may be continuously discharg'ed into the top ofthe receptacle. The will flow through opening: 48 in the guard ring o erth pp r dge ofthe receptacla' c rrviiig with it the scum whichfflets'bhitoplof the water. The inner edge of is provided with a verticalflange 43 having a rounded upper edge 5| which serves as a handle-bymeans of which the receptacle'inay be lifted from'the'shaft n.

paring extracting, the driving connection between the, shaft II- and thereceptacle 33 is effected by meansofa' centrifugal clutch which iscarried on the thrust-collar 42. This clutch comprises two shoes 52which are held against a squared cam surface 53 of the thrust collar bymeans of two split rings 54. During washing the agitator 46 isoscillated and the oscillation of the shaft I0 is at a relatively slowspeed of the order of magnitude of 60 oscillations per minute. and thesplit rings 54 are strong enough to hold the shoes 52 against thesquared portion 53. For wringing, the shafts 8 and I0 are rotated and assoon as the speed of rotation exceeds a few hundred R. P. M. the clutchshoes 52 move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force and touchthe inner surface of the sleeve 34 which forms the hub of the receptacle33. As soon as the shoes 52 contact the inner surface of the sleeve 34,their rotation is retarded and the squared surface 53 of the collar s2cooperates with the inner surface of the shoes 52 and wedges the shoestightly against the inner surface of the sleeve 34 to the"position shownin Fig. 5. The pressure between the shoes and the sleeve is proportionalto the torque exerted by the shaft Hi. This effects a positive drivingconnection between the shaft ill and the receptacle which causes thereceptacle to be rotated. Similarly. when the speed of the shaft isretarded by the brake, in stopping, the shoes release and immediatelywedge in the opposite direction. 4

In the use of the machine, the receptacle 33 is loaded with clothes andfilled with a suitable washing. solution. The driving mechanm is thenadjusted so that the shaft I0 is oscillated. During this oscillatingmovement, the receptacle 33 remains substantially stationary due toinertia and the oscillation of the agitator relative to the receptaclecauses the clothes to be washed. During the washing operation, thereceptacle 33 may be tilted to oneside due to the fact that the clothesare not uniformly distributed in the receptacle. This inclination ispermitted by the resilient support for thelower end of the sleeve I Iand by the universal joint arranged between l the washing operation thehearing loss in the bearings 39 and 40 is negligibledue to the lowspeed. of oscillation of the shaft It.

At the conclusion of the washing operation, the driving mechanism isadjusted so that the shaft 3 is rotated continuously in one direction.

As soon as the speed of rotation of the shaft 8 exceeds 8 few hundred R.P. M. the clutch shoes I! move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force and touch the inner surface of the sleeve which forms the hubof the receptacle 33. As soon as the shoes 52 contact the inner surfaceof the sleeve 34, their rotation is retarded and the squared surface 53of the collar 42 co-operates with the inner surface of' the shoes '52and wedges the shoes tightly against inner surface of the sleeve 34.This effects a positive driving connection between the shaft II and thereceptatwhich causes the receptacle tobe rotated. V

Since theclothes may be nonuniformly distributed in the receptacle, thereceptacle may be unbalanced. This unbalance will usually consistpartially of a static unbalance whichis equivalent a'single weightdisplaced from the axis-7 dynamic unbalance which is equivalent to theiii couple produced by vertically spaced weights of equal size locatedon opposite sides of and equidistant from the axis of rotation of thereceptacle. The static unbalancewill tend to cause gyration of thereceptacle about its axis so that,

the receptacle rotates about its center of mass. The dynamic unbalancewill tend to cause tilting of the receptacle so as to bring thereceptacle into a position in which there is no unbalanced couple. Theresilient mounting provided for the lower end of the sleeve Ill permitsgyration of the receptacle about its axis so that the receptacle rotatesabout its center of mass, neutralizing the effect of static unbalance.Since the resilient mounting has some stiffness, the gyration of thereceptacle about its axis is not sufficient to permit the receptacle torotate about its center of mass, but the resilient mounting does permitsufficient gyratlon of the receptacle so that the vibration due tostatic unbalance is considerably decreased, since the sleeve bearings 39and til prevent tilting of the receptacle with respect to the shaft Iiiand the receptacle will cause vibration due to the dynamic unbalance.This tendency of the receptacle to tilt causes heavy bearing pressure onthebearings 39 and all], out since there is no relative rotationbetweenthe bearing surfaces of these bearings, this pressure causes no hearingloss. Most of the force due to the dynamic unbalance of the receptaclewill be transmitted through the universal joint at the lower end of theshaft 80 to the shaft 8. This force is taken by the hearings in whichthe shaft it rotates. Since the bearings for the shaft 8 are aconsiderable distance from the receptacle 33, the force on the bearingsdue to the unbalanced couple is less than it would be at a point nearerthe receptacle. This means that the bearing loss dueto the unbalancedcouple is decreased. Also, these hearings are located below thestationary tub i and are therefore not subjected to the humid atmospherewithin the tub and are more easily lubricated. Some of the force due tothe dynamic unbalance or unbalanced couple is transmitted to the sleevel l. However, since this sleeve is resiliently supported, thesevibrations are cushioned. The cushioning action decreases the bearingpressure on the hearing it and thereby decreases the hearing loss. W

in previous constructions, the receptacle has been supported on a sleevesurrounding the driving shaft by means of a thrust bearing between thereceptacle and the upper end of ,the sleeve and the lower end of thereceptacle has been guided on the sleeve by means of a sleeve bearingbetween the receptacle and the sleeve. With this construction, thethrust bearing has had to be large enough to withstand the bearing loadsresulting from high speed rotation of the receptacle and the tendency ofthe receptacle to tilt due to dynamic unbalance has resulted in heavybearing pressures between the sleeve hearing between the lower end ofthe receptacle and the guiding sleeve for the vertical shaft. Due to theheavy pressures, the bearing losses in this bearing have been large andin some cases have amounted to more than one-quarter of the total powerrequired to rotate the receptacle. I

In the present construction, during extracting there is no relativerotation between the bearing surfaces of the thrust bearing 40 whichsupports the receptacle on the shaft or between the bearing surfaces ofthe sleeve bearing 39 which guides the lower ends of the receptacle onthe shaft. There is therefore no hearing loss in these hearings duringextracting. Also, due to the resilient support for the sleeve H thebearin'g pressures on the bearing I! are reduced with the result ofdecrease in hearing loss.

Since the sleeve H is resiliently supported at a point spaced from theuniversal joint through which the shaft I0 is driven, the gyratingmovement of the shaft I0 causes the sleeve bearing i! to turn in itsspherical seat in order to provide uniformbearing pressure. If somemeans were not provided for permitting the sleeve bearing H to alignitself with the shaft ID, the gyrating movement of the, shaft wouldcause nonuniform bearing pressures.

At the conclusion of the extracting operation the power supplied to thedriving mechanism is cut off and rotation of the receptacle is retarded,for example, by a braking force applied to the brake drum 9. When thisbraking force is applied, the receptacle 33 tends to rotate faster thanthe shaft M. This causes the shoes 52 to be rotated in the oppositedirection relative to the squared surface 53 and to be wedged betweenthis surface and the inner surface of the sleeve. The force with whichthe shoes 52 are wedged against the inner surface of the sleeve 36 isproportional to the torque which is being transmitted through the clutchshoes. When the rotation of the receptacle is completely retarded thereis no torque being transmitted through the clutch shoes and the clutchshoes may be easily returned to the neutral position by turning thereceptacle or the shaft id in the reverse direction.

Fig. 6 shows a modified self-aligning bearing for guiding the verticalshaft lit in the sleeve ii. In this construction the sleeve bearing 55is supported by a rubber ring 56 which is supported by a flared portion51 at the upper end of the sleeve ll. The operation of this bearing isthe same as the bearing i1 shown in Fig. Ii.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingliquid and material to be washed, means for supporting said receptaclein rotatable relation to said shaft, an agitator in said receptacle,adriving connection between the shaft and the agitator whereby theagitator is oscillated in said receptacle for washing upon oscillationof said shaft, and a clutch between said shaft and said receptacle forrotating said receptacle upon rotation of said shaft, said clutch beingresponsive to a speed in excess of the speed of the shaft duringwashing.

2. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingliquid and material to bewashed and having a hub surrounding said shaft,a thrust bearing between said hub and said shaft, an agitator in saidreceptacle, a driving connection between the shaft and the agitatorwhereby the agitator is oscillated in said receptacle for washing uponoscillation of said shaft, and means including a clutch between saidshaft and said hub for rotating said receptacle upon rotation of saidshaft, said clutch being responsive to a speed in excess of the speed ofthe shaft during washing.

3. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingliquid and material, a clutch shoe between said shaft and saidreceptacle arranged to be wedged between said receptacle and said shaftby the driving torque upon frictional contact with said receptacle,means utilizing the shaft torque for wedging the shoe between the shaftand the receptacle upon frictional contact of the shoe with thereceptacle, 5 and means for holding said shoe outof contact with saidreceptacle until said shaft has attained a predetermined speed.

4. In a washing machine, av vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingliquid and material, a driving connection between said shaft and saidreceptacle including a membercarried by said shaft, a clutch surfacecarried by said receptacle and a shoe adapted to be wedged between saidmember and said surface by the driving torque, means utilizing the shafttorque for wedging the means for preventing wedging of said shoe betweensaid surfaces until the shaft has attained 'a' predetermined speed.

5. Inawashing machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingliquid and material, a clutch surface on said receptacle, a shoe, a camsurface on said shaft adapted to co-operate with said shoe and forcesaid shoe against said clutch surface upon relative rotation betweensaid shaft whereby the agitator is oscillated in said receptacle uponoscillation of said shaft for washing,

- a clutch shoe carried on said thrust bearing, said bearing having acam surface adapted to force said shoe against said hub upon relativerotation between said shoe and said bearing, and

speed responsive means for holding said shoe out of contact with saidhub until said shaft has attained a predetermined speed in excess of thespeed of the shaft during washing. a

7. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, ,a

receptacle for receiving liquid and material to be washed, an agitatorin said receptacle fixed to said shaft, means for selectivelyoscillating said shaft for washing and for rotating said shaft, a

driving connection between said shaft and said receptacle including aclutch surface carried by said shaft, a clutch surface carried by saidreceptacle'and a shoe adapted to be wedged between said surfaces by thedriving torque,means utilizing the shaft torque for wedging the shoebetween said surfaces, and. means for preventing wedging of said shoebetween said surfaces until the shaft has attained a predetermined speedin excess of the speed of the shaft-during washing. 7

,8, In a washing machine, a tub, a vertical shaft extending upward fromthe bottom of the tub, a receptacle in the tub for receiving liquid andmaterial, means for supportingsaid receptacle on said shaft in rotatablerelation thereto, a driving connection between said receptacle and saidshaft whereby said receptacle is 1'0- tated to extract liquid from thematerial contained therein upon rotation of the shaft, means includinga. sleeve surrounding said shaft. a selfaligning bearing between saidshaft and said sleeve providing for gyratory movement therebetween, andmeans for resilientlysupporting 1 5 the sleeve for gyratory movementrelative-to the shaft between said surface and said member and tubwhereby said bearing supports the shaft for gyratory movement relativeto the tub.

9. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, means for driving said shaftarranged to permit gyratory movement of said shaft, a receptacle for 5receiving liquid andmaterial, a driving connection between saidreceptacle and said shaft whereby said receptacle is rotated to extractliquid from the material contained therein upon rotation of said shaft,means including a sleeve surrounding said shaft for resilientlysupporting said shaft for gyratory movement, the axis of gyration ofsaid sleeve being spaced fromthe 'axis of gyration of said shaft, and aself-aligning bearing between said shaft and said sleeve.

10. In a washing, machine, a receptacle for receiving liquid andmaterial to be washed, a vertical shaft, an agitator in said receptacleconnected to said shaft, means for supporting said 7 receptacle inrotatable relation to said shaft for rotation through an angle ofgreater than 360, means for oscillating said shaft for washing, meansfor rotating said shaft at a relatively high speed, and a speedresponsive clutch between said shaft and said receptacle conditioned forrotatinmg said receptacle during therotation of the shaft,- said clutchbeing ineffective to. move the receptacle during the oscillation of theshaft during washing.

11. in a washing machine, a receptacle for receiving liquid and materialto be washed, a vertical shaft, an agitator in said receptacle connectedto said shaft, means for supporting said receptacle in rotatablerelation to said shaft for rotation through an angle ofgreater than360?. means for oscillating said shaft for washing. means for rotatingsaid shaft at a relatively high speed, and means operative during therotation" of the shaft to rotate the receptacle, said means beingineffective to move the receptacle during the the oscillation of theshaft during washing.

12. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingliquid and material, a clutch surface carried by said receptacle, a camsurface on said shaft, and stance between'said surfaces and arranged tobe wedged against said clutch surface by said cam surface upon rotationofthe shaft.

13. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a! receptacle for receivingliquid and material, a clutch surface carried by said receptacle, ascam,surface on said shaft, a plurality of'shoes between said surfaces andarranged to be wedgedv against said clutch surface by said cam surfaceupon rotation of the shaft, and annular resilient means around saidshoes for holding said against said cam surface until the shaft has'attained a predetermined speed. 7

14. In a washing machine, a vertical shaftpa receptacle forreceivingliquid and material, a clutch. surface carried {by saidreceptacle, a squared surface on said sh'aft, clutch shoes fitting,againstopposite corners of said squared surface, said shoes beingadapted tobe wedged-against said clutch surface by saidsquared surfaceupon rotation of the shaft, and annular resilient means around saidshoes for. holdingsaid shoes against said squared surface until theshaft has attained a predetermined speed.

15. In a washing machine, a shaft, a receptacle for receivinga liquidand material to be washed, means for supporting the receptacle inrotatable relation to the shaft, a washing ele-' ment in the receptacle,a driving connection between the washing element and the shaft wherebythe washing element may be operated by the shaft for washing, and aclutch between the shaft and the receptacle responsive to a speed inexcess of the shaft speed during washing for rotating the receptacleuponrotation of the shaft for extracting.

16. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingmaterial to be washed, a washing element in the receptacle operable byrotation of the. shaft relative to the receptacle, and a clutch betweenthe shaft and the receptacle responsive to a speed in excess of theshaft speed during washing for rotating the receptacle on high speedrotation of the shaft.

17. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a

receptacle for receiving material to be washed, a

washing element in the receptacle operable by rotation of the shaftrelative to the receptacle, and a clutch between the shaft and thereceptacle for rotating the receptacle to extract liquid from eitherdirection for wedging the shoe therebe-' tween upon frictional contactof the shoe with the receptacle, and means for holding the shoe out ofcontact with the receptacle.

19. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingmaterial to be washed having a hub surrounding the shaft, a thrustbearing forsupporting the receptacle on the shaft in rotatable relationthereto, a washing element in the receptacle operable by rotation of theshaft relative to the receptacle for washing, a clutch between the shaftand the receptacle comprising clutch surfaces on the shaft andreceptacle and a clutch shoe -therebetween, means responsive to torquetending to produce relative rotation between the clutch surfaces ineither direction for wedging the shoe therebetween upon frictionalcontact of the shoe with the clutch surfaces carried by the receptacle,and means for holding the shoe out of contact with the clutch surfacecarried by the receptacle during washing.

20. In a washing machine, a tub, a vertical shaft extending upward fromthe bottom of the tub,'a receptacle in the tub for receiving mate rialto be washed, means for supporting'the receptacle in rotatable relationto the shaft, a driving connection between the shaft and the receptaclewhereby the receptacle is rotated to extract liquid from the materialcontained therein, a driving shaft at the lower end of the verticalshaft, a universal joint connecting the shafts, a sleeve surrounding thevertical shaft, 2:. selfalignin'g bearing between the vertical shaft andsleeve providing for.gyratory movement therebetween, and means forresiliently supporting the sleeve for gyratory movement relative to thetub whereby said bearing supports the shaft for gyratory movementrelative to the tub.

21. In a washing machine, a vertical shaft, a receptacle for receivingmaterial, a clutch surface carried by the receptacle, a cam surface onthe shaft, and a shoe between said surfaces and arranged to be forcedoutward into engagement with the clutch surface and wedged between thesurfaces by relative rotation of the receptacle and shaft in eitherdirection.

22. In a washing machine, a receptacle for receiving material, avertical shaft, means supporting the receptacle in rotatable relation tothe shaft, provisions whereby the receptacle is rotated by the shaft toextract liquid from the material contained therein, brake means forretarding the rotation of the shaft, and a torque responsive clutchbetween the shaft and receptacle operable to connect the shaft andreceptacle in a direction to retard the rotation of the receptacle..

23. In a washing machine, a vertical drive shaft, a vertical drivenshaft, a universal connection therebetween, means for supporting thedriven shaft for gyratory movement relative to the drive shaft, areceptacle for receiving material to be washed supported in rotatablerelation to the driven shaft, a washing element in the receptacleconnected to the driven shaft and operable by rotation relative to thereceptacle, a clutch between the driven shaft and the receptacle forrotating the receptacle to extract liquid from the material containedtherein, said clutch comprising clutch surfaces on the shaft andreceptacle and a clutch shoe therebetween, said surfaces and shoecooperating to wedge the shoe in response to the torque transmittedtherebetween upon relative rotation of the shaft and receptacle ineither direction, and brake means on said drive shaft for retarding therotation of the receptacle.

2%. in a washing machine, a vertical drive shaft, a vertical drivenshaft, a universal connection therebetween, means for supporting thedriven shaft for gyratory movementrelative to the drive shaft, areceptacle for receiving material to be washed supported in rotatablerelation to the driven shaft, a washing element in the receptacleconnected to the driven shaft and operable by rotation relative to thereceptacle for washing, a clutch between the driven shaft and thereceptacle comprising clutch surfaces, a shoe therebetween, andprovisions utilizing the shaft torque for wedging the shoe between theclutch surfaces, means for preventing wedging of the clutch shoe duringwashing, and brake means on said drive shaft for retarding the rotationof the receptacle.

25. In a combined washing and drying machine, a tub, a shaft extendingwithin the tub, a receptacle in the tub surrounding the shaft forreceiving material to be washed, a washing element in the receptacle,driving connections between one end of the shaft and the receptacle andwashing element whereby the shaft selectively operates the washingelement for washing and rotates the receptacle for extracting. a drivingshaft at the other end of the first shaft, a universal joint connectingthe shafts, a sleeve surrounding the first shaft, a self-aligningbearing between the first shaft and sleeve providing forgyratorymovement therebetween, and means for resiliently supporting thesleeve for gyratory movement relative to the tub about an axis above theuniversal joint whereby said bearing supports the first shaft forgyratory movement relative to the tub.

- GEORGE W. DUNHAM.

(LED

CERTIFICAIEJOF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,161,619. June 1959. GEORGE w.-DUNHAIL,

It'is hereby certified that error eppears in the'print'ed specific anonof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page ,1,first column, line 51, for the word "tube" read; tub; page L firstcolumn, line 16, claim 1 for "ehaft" read shoe same page, second column,line hl,' c1aim 11; for'f'the the" read the; and that the said LettersPatentshouldbe read 'with this "eorrect'ion therein that the-same mayconfo n n to the record of the cse' in the Patent 0ff1ee. I y

Signed. and sealed this-25th day of'Jnly, A. D. 19 9.

. 7 Henry VadAz-sdle,

(Seal) 4 I Acting Commis sioner' of Patents;

